« February 2005 | Main | April 2005 »

Socially Responsible Investment Fund Drops Starbucks

We found this interesting.

A mutual fund company that invests only in businesses it deems socially responsible has dropped Starbucks Corp., citing the coffee giant's launch of a java liqueur with whiskey maker Jim Beam.

Pax World Funds, a Portsmouth, New Hampshire-based fund family, steers clear of companies involved in defense or weapons, tobacco, liquor or gambling. It sold 375,000 shares of Starbucks worth an estimated $23.4 million, about 1.6 percent of its Pax World Balanced Fund portfolio, the fund said in a statement released Wednesday.

Starbucks and Jim Beam?  The thought of it sounds just awful.  Now had it been Bushmills or Jameson's, maybe you'd have something.

March 30, 2005 | | Comments (0)

Good News, Bad News

Good news:  Our sign is supposed to go up today, finally.

Bad news:  It's going to be almost 70 degrees and we can't put any tables outside because our sign is going up today. 

Hopefully the sign guys get done early so we can offer at least a couple of hours of al fresco sipping and noshing later today.

UPDATE:  Sign is now going up tomorrow (if it doesn't rain).  So enjoy an outside table while you sip away!

March 30, 2005 in Zeitgeist | | Comments (0)

TFC: Wednesday, March 30

In addition to our wonderful Aldo House Blend and a dark Central American French Roast,  we feature a varietal from Guatemala:  "El Cuervo".

This world exclusive coffee is the result of a collaboration between our roaster, Intelligentsia Coffee Roasters, and a small farm in the Fraijanes region of Guatemala. Blazingly vibrant, medium-bodied with swashbuckling complexity, this lovely bean is loaded with ripe fruit and chocolate notes delivered in a most graceful fashion.

                           

March 30, 2005 | | Comments (0)

Excuse the Music for a Few Days

Our CD changer is "defective", according to Bose.  If you've been the past week, you probably noticed every CD we tried skipped in all five slots of the changer. 

The "defective" one is being shipped out today via FedEx and we hope to have a replacement from Bose by end of week.  In the meantime, we're relying on the local jazz stations for background music.

March 28, 2005 | | Comments (0)

Another Catastrophe for Sumatra

An 8.2 quake occured just off Sumatra a couple of hours ago.  The quake could be felt from Singapore to Malaysia. 

This is the same area of the world that was devastated by the tsmuamis back on December 26 after another quake hit the region.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Sumatra during this time.   

Sumatra is one of the world's most important coffee-growing regions.  We will keep you apprised of relief efforts being conducted by Coffee Kids and others who direct aid and support to the region in times of need.

March 28, 2005 | | Comments (0)

For Those Who Like Dark Roasts

And it seems there are a fair number of you... we will now have a featured dark roast coffee each day.

Which means we'll be eliminating flavored coffee on weekdays (we'll still offer it on weekends).  We've tried all sorts of flavors, but other than Jamaican Me Crazy, none were big sellers.  Dark roasts outsold the flavors every single time. 

Also, offering a dark roast everyday allows us to experiment with a broader selection of varietals so you can become familiar with the uniquen tastes of each growing region.

As our Aldo House Blend is more of a medium roast, you'll now find medium roast, dark roast and a selected varietal each day.  And on weekends, flavored coffee as well.

March 28, 2005 | | Comments (0)

TFC: Monday, March 28

Varietal:  Flor Azul Nicaragua

Dark Roast:  Organic French Roast (Fair Trade Certified)

March 28, 2005 | | Comments (0)

Dessert Season Back On

Lent is officially over.  For those of you who gave up desserts (and we know who you are!) you can indulge again.

Talkingchocolatecake_3  Since you've been avoiding our dessert case, next time you visit you'll find a ridiculously rich chocolate cake, an assortment of lemon and fruit tartlettes and an apricot torte have joined the cheesecakes, cannoli, sfogliatelle and other desserts that have been pining for you in your absence.

If you listen closely, you can hear them calling for you...

March 27, 2005 | | Comments (0)

TFC: Easter Sunday, March 27

Happy Easter!

We're open until 1pm today.  But no panini due to the early close.

Today's Varietal:  Flor Azur Nicaraguan

Deliciously sweet, with refreshing notes of apricot, peach, and sugar cane that combine perfectly with crisp floral accents to make this coffee both embraceable and invigorating. This coffee has a charisma and confidence about it that evoke the resilient spirit of the country where it is grown.

Today's Blend:  Italian Roast

March 27, 2005 | | Comments (0)

TFC: Saturday, March

Featured coffee:  Guatemalan  "El Cuervo"
Dark Roast:  Italian Dark Roast

March 26, 2005 | | Comments (0)

Next »

What's Goin' On

  • Hey there... if you're looking for our physical store, we closed as of November 15, 2011. The space is under new ownership as Orbis Caffe, still serving delicious coffee and food with great service. We hope you'll give them a try. For info on Melanie and Rich, follow @aldo_mel or @richwesterfield or visit accidentalroaster.com.
Aldo's Slideshow

Recent Posts

Recent Comments

Coffee How To's

Advancing the Coffee Culture

  • Coffee Kids
    A charity we support that improves the quality of life for children in coffee-growing regions around the world.
  • CoffeeGeek
    Reviews on gadgetry and techniques for the home brewing enthusiast.
  • Coffee Review
    Connosieur Ken David and friends review and rate various coffees, including offerings served at Aldo Coffee Company from Intelligentsia Cofee Roasters like the fabulous espresso blend Black Cat.
  • Coffee Research
    What do you want to know about coffee?
  • Portafilter.net
    The geekiest of coffee geeks aspire to extract the absolute perfect cup.
  • Tea Guide
    Directory of shops serving quality teas.
  • Espresso Map
    A map that pinpoints the best espresso joints in the US and Canada as determined by the site's author and professional peer reviews.
  • Barismo
    Jamie Van Schyndel and friends dissect anything and everything coffee and tea related from beans and leaves to technique and equipment in pursuit of perfection.
  • Pittsburgh Area Coffee Association
    Jake Liefer of Beaver Falls Coffee & Tea built a blog aggregator and community site for local baristas.
  • In Season Coffee
    No coffee served after its time.
  • Sweet Maria's
    The ultimate source for green coffee for home roasters. Tom's knowledge of coffee is encyclopaedic.
  • twitchy
    Liz Clayton's blog is the ET of coffee.
  • Intelligentsia LA
    Group blog from Intelligentsia's Silver Lake and Venice baristas and roasters.
  • Accidental Roaster
    Adventures of a barista/cafe owner on becoming a coffee roaster.
  • Bitter Press
    Jess from Intelligentsia uses science to explain things.

Heroes & Legends

  • Murky Coffee (NoVa)
    Retailer (non-roaster) who's one of the best indie shops on the East Coast. Features selection of top roasters and pulls only ristrettos. No drip - Americanos and press pots only.
  • Stumptown (Portland, OR)
    Along with Intelligentsia, probably the most acclaimed coffee roaster in the US. A certifiable Coffee Mecca that's turned Portland into the quality coffee capital of the Pacific Northwest.
  • Espresso Vivace (Seattle)
    David Schomer is widely acknowledged as a perfectionist. Espresso Vivace is home to his science and art.
  • Intelligentsia (Chicago)
    Our coffee source and one of the most highly acclaimed roasters in US. Taught us most everything we know (although we think they're still holding back some secrets).
  • Joe The Art of Coffee (NYC)
    Preposterous name, but consistently ranked among top espresso joints in New York, which has to mean something, no?
  • Caffe Vittoria (Boston)
    OK, maybe it's not the best espresso in Boston. But Vittoria is a great North End experience. A riot of noise, cappuccino, cannoli and sambuca. This is Rich's dream joint. Except with better coffee.
  • Blue Bottle (SF)
    Beans microroasted fresh daily and whatever doesn't sell today is tossed. Has raised the bar for every other joint in the Bay Area.
  • Peets (Berkeley/SF)
    Alfred Peet is often called "the grandfather of the specialty coffee industry". Started in 1966, Peets continues to have a loyal following, despite tons of regional competition.
  • George Howell's Terroir (Boston)
    George's Coffee Connection was specialty coffee in New England for years. Then he sold out to the dark empire. Now he's back with Terroir, identifying and promoting single source coffees. No stores yet, only whole bean sales.
  • The Roasterie (Kansas City)
    Reginal powerhouse coffee buyer, roaster, trainer and local retail chain in KC, Missouri.
  • Ninth St. Espresso (NYC)
    King of espresso on Manhattan's Lower East Side.
  • Gimme! Coffee (Ithaca/NYC)
    Gimme! was among the first Eastern shops to rival the best in the PNW. Born in Ithaca, they're now in Brooklyn, Chelsea Market and LES.
  • Simon's (Boston)
    Cambridge, MA, used to be home to Jaime VanSchyndel, barista provocateur. Not sure if they're still what they were when Jaime was on bar, but it's likely still the best cup in Boston.
  • Caffe Artigiano (Vancouver, BC)
    Two time Canadian Barista Champ Sammy Piccolo and his roaster brother Vince have put Artigiano in the heads of espresso geeks worldwide. They cornered the market on 2005 Brazil CoE Santa Ines to ensure their proper place on the quality map.
  • Ritual Coffee (SF)
    Ask for Gabe or Baca. Lines usually out the door. For good reason.
  • Cafe Grumpy (NYC)
    In the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn and now with a Lower West Side storefront. Top equipment and beans from Ecco and Counter Culture.
  • Octane (Atlanta)
    Hotlanta's cool kids of coffee, led by M'lissa. Great skills, great training, great coffee.
  • Alterra (Milwaukee)
    One of our favorite macchiatos was served here. Scott and Justin rock. The espresso stands up to milk like few others.
  • Zoka (Seattle)
    One of the largest and best macroroasters in the Pacific Northwest. Numerous barista champions worked on bar for Zoka.

Muses

  • Chris Brogan
    Fun guy, busy guy, usually in Pgh for PodCamp. Chris is the best at distilling high-tech social media concepts for use in low-tech businesses.
  • Seth Godin
    There are a lot of big thinkers out there. Seth may not be the biggest, but he's the best at crystallizing big ideas into actionable agendas.
  • Hugh McLeod
    Been following Hugh since the early days of blogs. He called us one of his first global microbrands. We call him a revolutionary genius.